October 15, 2020
THE WITNESS
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11
WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
A skateboard future Israeli company REE shows future road-based transport can take any shape an owner wants ALWYN VILJOEN I put my head on the block back in 2013, predicting that the current assembly line approach is already outdated and instead of giant car factories churning out thousands of exact copies by the hour, the waning numbers of future petrolheads who will want to own cars (instead of just hailing a flying taxi) will order customised rides from tiny companies. Israeli company REE have now showed their final models of the platforms these customised rides could be based on. “The fundamental structure of the automotive industry is evolving into a mission specific vehicle with modularity being key, structured in three layers — the platform providers, the service providers and the data providers — all working together to create new vehicles and new services tailored to customers’ needs in a fast changing world. REE is here to lead the industry and set the path for future platforms,” said REE CEO and co-founder Daniel Barel. Toyota was first to follow this lead, having partnered with REE on the electric range of Hino “Flatformer” trucks, which range in size from passenger shuttles to garbage trucks. Mahindra recently also signed an MoA with REE to develop and build electric vehicles. They are looking at producing up to a quarter of a million skateboard-based vehicles. The REE “skateboard” comprises of a flat battery pack that acts as the plank in the skateboard, and on each corner, a hubwheel. Each hubwheel contains the entire drivetrain, suspension and brakes. These two modules enable what Barel said are limitless design possibilities. REE’s current models include a
Robert Whiting defends the gap against Jonathan Pieterse at iDube karting track in Camperdown. PHOTO: MOTORSPORT MEDIA
KZN Max karters prepare for Cape trek in style
REE CEO and co-founder Daniel Barel rides the biggest skateboard (EV chassis) in town. 1,3-ton last-mile delivery buggy, a 2,5-ton passenger and cargo transport, and a 4,5-ton delivery van designed for U.S. market use. But that is just the top. The hubwheels on the corners are where the true revolution (excuse the pun) hides, as these wheels can be ordered to turn the skateboard into an
all-wheel-drive, cross-country racer with active-suspension, or a narrow three-wheeler for a sedate ride in the bicycle lane. Steering is not by wire, but by signal and can even be done by remote control, as Ree demonstrated during the launch of their latest three models. No design is perfect and the REE has
its drawbacks in the heavy unsprung weight of all that hardware hiding in the hub, which endows the REE skateboard with the hard-riding characteristics of, well, a skateboard. But a too bumpy ride is also the problem all “normal” drivers have with any car that rides on rock-hard, race-tuned suspension.
Hence, I will wiggle my head further onto the block, and predict that the assembly line of the very near future will be broken up into many small car builders who will bolt, strap and even glue any shape you desire on top of a platform that may have three, four or six hub wheels, depending on the payload. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
Gazoo guys aiming to extend their lead this weekend SUPA QUICK BOOST FOR CHILD SEATS Supa Quick has donated R100 000 to help establish a child car safety learning centre for Wheel Well, a non-profit organisation that collects, repairs and donates child seats in South Africa. “This donation towards our learning centre will go a long way in enabling us to build a dynamic facility that will educate parents more effectively about the importance of child safety in vehicles and the use of car seats,” said Peggy Mars, founder of Wheel Well. She said a 2020 study done in conjunction with the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town revealed that South Africa isn’t the only market with low rates of car seat use, with rates around the world well below 20%. The study also showed that even when a comprehensive legislation exists, high rates of use are not possible without complimentary educational programmes, increased enforcement and supportive programmes to distribute car seats. “With child car seat use being dismally poor, the centre will be open to individuals and groups, such as early childhood development centres, community forums and corporates,” said Mars. “Attending parents will be taken through the various aspects of selecting and installing of car seats, as well as the physiological factors involved in child car safety.” The learning centre will extend the partnership between Wheel Well and Supa Quick, launched in July, to encourage people with unused child car seats to drop them off at any of the Supa Quicks fitment centres nationwide, to be donated to Wheel Well. “Supa Quick is proving to be a vital network in our collection effort this year as it resumed operations during lockdown level 3 and offers an extensive national footprint,” Mars says. The facility will be equipped with detailed and entertaining visual aids, life-sized installations and various other displays to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of using car seats at all times. On-site staff will also provide tutorials on the correct installation method for the various age groups and children’s developmental stages. — WR.
The South African National Rally Championship (NRC) continues with a second double-header on the trot, this time taking place in the Mpumalanga town of Delmas. With two wins under their belt after the opening rounds, Toyota Gazoo Racing SA’s Guy Botterill and navigator Simon Vacy-Lyle will be aiming to extend their lead in the delayed and compressed 2020 championship at the NTT Toyota Delmas Rally this weekend. The pair drew first blood by winning both opening rounds of the NRC, the Lake Umuzi Rally, which took place in September, in the area around the town of Secunda, also in Mpumalanga. Since then, the team have refined their Class R4 Toyota Etios. “Besides the work we’ve done on the car, we’re also becoming more familiar
Ballito-based Toyota Gazoo Racing’s champion rally team Simon Vacy-Lyle (left) and Guy Botterill. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
with it,” said Botterill. “We’re still getting used to driving a powerful fourwheel-drive rally car, after many years in the front-wheel drive S1600. But we’re making progress, and hope to be significantly faster this weekend.” The NTT Toyota Delmas Rally gets under way with round three of the championship tomorrow. This one-day round of the series features six stages divided into three sections, with a total stage distance of 95 km. This will be followed by round four of the championship on Saturday, featuring six more stages, and a total stage distance of 88 km. The NTT Toyota Delmas Rally will be run under strict Covid-19 protocols, as set out by Motorsport South Africa. As such, no spectators will be allowed, but fans can follow the action via SA Rally’s online channels. — WR.
Upgrade of Pik Up range sees huge demand in South Africa Mahindra has completed the upgrade of its Pik Up range, which is assembled in the Dube Tradeport Special Economic Zone (SEZ) next to King Shaka Airport. Among the changes is the new corporate grille, first shown on the S11 (pictured). The S6 specification level upwards features cruise control and electrically adjustable outside rearview mirrors as standard. All models also come with a remote fuel-flap release that can be operated from the foldable flip key, while a 7” infotainment system with capacitive touchscreen and integrated reverse camera is available on the S11 model. This system has the most recent set of navigation maps and language pack for South Africa. ‘The Pik Up range is making new fans every month, and our South African assembly facility can barely keep up with the demand. With the upgrades now added, we believe that we have the perfect bakkie for customers looking for a reliable and capable, but always affordable, double cab to fit their lifestyle,’ said Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa. Prices for the single-cab Mahindra Pik Up S4 4x2 begin at R212 499, while the full-house S11 4x4 double-cab Karoo lists for R429 999, making these South Africa’s most affordable luxury workhorses. — WR
SUPERTECH TAKES TO THE GREENS Supertech Group, already pioneers in marketing BMW vehicles with lifestyle initiatives at its six dealerships, has launched a Golf Association that offers two valueadd packages. The packages are aimed at either introducing beginners to the game of golf, or providing experienced players with preferred rates or complimentary entry at select clubs across SA. Both packages are for six months and cost R3 999. The Supertech Group Golf Association (SGGA) was founded in partnership with Supersport’s Leg-
ends on the Links host, Don Gammon, whose enthusiasm to teach golf to newcomers through the Gammon Golf Academy is only exceeded by his experience as an international golf pro. “Golf can be a complicated and intimidating sport, but there can be no doubt that it provides an environment for networking, socialising, team building and competition like no other,” says Gammon. Full details on both Beginner and Founders Member packages are available on Supertech Group’s website. — Dealerfloor.
KwaZulu-Natal’s Rotax Max karters got their final national preparations done with a competitive regional round at iDube on Sunday. Many of them are in the thick of the national championship action ahead of Saturday’s final round at Killarney in Cape Town and among those who will now consider themselves ready for this week’s trek down to the Cape. Robert Whiting had a three-win romp in DD2. He is extremely well placed in the nationals and will be grateful for the laps as he held Stan Whiting and Brent Walden at bay. Whiting was however made to work for it by over-30s DD2 Masters winner Jonathan Pieterse in the first and final heats. Pieterse is another one with an eye on an SA team berth at the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal in January. He however had an issue in race 2 and only just held race 2 winner Shane Foley off overall. There was great action all day long behind as Foley fought off third overall Simon Wilde, Eric Marzoppi, Alistair Mingay, Ryan Wilde and Chris Grobbelaar. Foley was on double duty and added the Max Masters gold medal to his DD2 Masters silver.
He beat Richard van Heerde two heats to one. Behind them Richard Horner bounced back to beat Dean Rice, Beverly van Heerde and Allan John Rice. Riding similar, albeit lighter, top-class chain drive karts, Brent Walden enjoyed a Senior Max clean sweep ahead of national rival Riley Horner, Jono Pieterse, Shrien Naidoo, Jack Rowe and Yifan Li. Junior Max Troy Snyman was unbeaten in U15 Junior Max ahead of Dhivyen Naidoo, Nikheil Kulkaparsad and Corban Spies, while Ntiyiso and Mahlori Mabunda shared out the under-13 Mini Max heats in front of Berlin Robinson. Travis Mingay took under-11 Micro Max two races to one over Uzair Khan, with Enzo Rujugiro, Kyle Spies, Tshepang Shisinwana and Kiera Naidoo in hot pursuit. The baby Bambinos proved spectacular as ever, as Harry Rowe and Matthew Shuttleworth shared the wins ahead of Troy Pieterse, Kian Snyman, Busani Sithole and Kayden Pistauer. And Eddie Lloyd beat Stan Whiting, Peter-John Garbutt and Bruce Rowe in the four-stroke club race. The attention now turns to Cape Town this weekend. Follow the tight duels on www.kart.co.za
UK cities start blueprint to deploy self-driving cars For the next 30 months, five partners — Nissan, the Connected Places Catapult, TRL, Hitachi and the University of Nottingham — will work together to develop a blueprint on how to deploy self-driving vehicles in the UK’s cities. Called ServCity, the research project is jointly funded by government and industry. The UK government is adding £100 million (over R2,1 billion) to Intelligent Mobility fund, which is administered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and delivered by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. The partners are not starting cold, but will use the experience acquired through the HumanDrive project that was completed in February this year. This project tackled autonomous driving on countryside and motorway lanes, overcoming challenges
such as roundabouts and high speed country lanes with no marking, white lines, or kerbs. Business and Industry Minister Nadhim Zahawi said if society is to enjoy the benefits of self-driving vehicles, we need to ensure the technology can safely master a modern city with all its obstacles. Bob Bateman, project manager from Nissan, said Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility strategy aims to achieve a mobility future “that is more electric, more autonomous and more connected”. Andrew Hart, SBD automotive director, said robotaxis can fundamentally transform mobility in cities, but user experience lies at the heart of that transformation, as operators will need to carefully balance customer expectations with real-world technological constraints. — WR.
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